Unemployment rates rose in 3 of 8 US swing states last month

New numbers show the unemployment rate in Kansas went up for the fourth month in a row.

Unemployment rates were significantly lower in September in 7 states, higher in 1 state, and stable in 42 states and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.

Merced County had an unemployment rate of 8.2 percent in September, down from a rate of 9.3 percent in August.

The seasonally adjusted data released Friday morning suggest the state's labor force expanded by about 20,000 people between July and September. Manufacturing, which has been hit by the global economic slowdown and the fall in oil prices, got a lift in September, with businesses adding 700 jobs.

Despite the increase, the county's unemployment rate was still lower than the statewide average of 5.5 percent and matched the national rate. It was 4.9 percent in August.

The state estimates there were 1.65 million people working during the month.